Turning 30 and the List of 30.

Today is my 30th birthday. I've been dreading this day for quite some time, as I've always felt that 30 is a landmark birthday. In your 20s, I feel like you can get away with a lot, but at 30...well, you're a real adult.

It hasn't quite sunken in, but I'm sure it will over the next few days. I know I'm a little sad on this birthday, as I thought my life would be slightly different by this time (mainly-kids). But I'm optimistic that the next ten years are going to be amazing because in all reality, my 20s weren't that great. I AM ready to leave them behind.

Anyway, to celebrate my 30th birthday, I really wanted to give myself a list of things to do, or accomplish, before my next birthday. Some are things just for me, some are for others, but all are things that I think will make my 30th year quite spectacular. I think I might post about some of them, and I know I'll keep a running list and my progress somewhere on the blog, but it's here for now.

The List of 30:

1. Volunteer at a soup kitchen (probably in Pontiac)
2. Complete 3 "pay-it-forward" transactions in drive-thrus (paying for the person behind me)
3. Write a letter to someone I haven't talked to in awhile and post it
4. Learn to play bass guitar (fitting, as Matt refinished and gave me one as a present this year)
5. Take a sewing class
6. Crochet a new blanket for our bed
7. Get a tattoo
8. Cull my book collection
9. Lose 100 pounds (no, it's not unrealistic-I've lost 30 in about 3 months)
10. Celebrate 6 months of no pop (currently at 3 months)
11. Take my goddaughter to the zoo and spend a day spoiling her
12. Take a weekend vacation with Matt to someplace new
13. Go through all of my clothing and donate items to charity
14. Clean out our storage unit
15. Make homemade bread 
16. Learn 15 new, healthy recipes and share
17. Go camping
18. Finish our wedding scrapbook and albums
19. Read Clarissa
20. Send out holiday cards
21. Visit a farmer's market
22. Learn to can different fruits and make jams (and do so!-Apple butter in the fall?)
23. Mend a few friendships (I have people in mind....)
24. Compliment 5 strangers
25. Give a class a weird, unexpected, and much needed extra credit assignment
26. Finish writing my novel
27. Participate in NaNoWriMo 2015
28. Try 5 new restaurants
29. Learn how to meditate
30. Organize a surprise for someone

100 Sideways Miles by Andrew Smith.

“Sometimes books imitate life. And sometimes books imitate lives that imitate books.” 

I'm slowly working my way through all of Andrew Smith's books after first discovering him a few years ago during a summer readalong (I believe Roof Beam Reader is responsible). Since reading my first Smith titles that summer (In the Path of Falling Objects and Stick), I've been trying to read my way through Smith, grabbing new releases as they come out and working my way around to the books I haven't had a chance to read yet. I'm pretty sure I only have 2 left-The Marbury Lens and Passenger (I could be wrong now that I'm looking over at my shelf). In any case, I really enjoy reading Smith. I consider myself to be a big fan of his work and think that he's doing some really great things with YA fiction. His work has a signature and it stands out from a lot of the other things being published today.

Anyway, I recently received this title in a recent book swap and felt in the mood for some zany Smith this past weekend. He didn't disappoint. Now, if you've read Smith before, I would compare this more to Winger than Grasshopper Jungle or The Alex Crow. It had it's crazy and original elements, but seemed a little tamer than the last 2 Smith books I've read. 

So what is it about?

Finn Easton is not your average teenage boy. He was born with heterochromatic eyes (different colors). And when he was young, a dead horse fell off a bridge and onto Finn and his mother. His mother was killed in the accident, and after being in the hospital with a broken back, Finn has an odd scar and epilepsy as a result. With all of these traits, Finn always feels a little different, and it didn't help with his father published a book with a main character named Finn...who shares all of those traits.

But beyond that simple surface explanation, the book has a lot of traditional YA elements that made me love it-a crazy best friend, Cade, who was probably my favorite character (he reminded me of a student), a beautiful girl, Julia, that accepted Finn with all of this traits, a road trip, and lots of swearing and teenage situations. It was a simple story surrounded by complex elements, but Smith made it seem original and true. And believable, even given those bits of zany I've come to expect from him. 

One aspect of the book I really enjoyed was the description of time passing. Instead of using time as we use it (5 minutes pass), Finn thinks in terms of distance-what the earth travels, etc. It makes for an interesting plot element and allows Finn to challenge his own notions of what really makes sense to him as he deals with the hand the universe dealt him. It was well executed and explained, so that as I read the book, I found myself thinking about moving in distance, not time. 

In all, this is a great addition to Smith's canon and one that I can see a lot of teenagers really enjoying.

“Worry and regret are both useless weights that provide no drag. They never did anything to slow down the planet for one goddamned second.” 

Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton.

"I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story."

This was probably my 6th or 7th time reading Wharton's slim little volume, but that didn't make it any less exciting or interesting or heartfelt.

In short, this book tells the tragic tale of Ethan Frome's life in Starkfield and the accident that determined the course of his life. And while I probably have passages memorized from reading it so many times, the novella still gets me every time.

Poor Ethan Frome is married to Zeena, a woman with chronic medical problems and a bit of a temper problem. Because of Zeena's health, the Fromes have taken in young Mattie to help. Mattie is full of youth and cheer and is the only bright spot in Ethan's dull life. And when Zeena leaves for medical treatment, Ethan and Mattie realize that there could be more....

On this most recent read, I paid particular attention to Wharton's description of the setting, which very much foreshadows and reflects the emotions Ethan struggles with throughout the course of the story. The very name of the town-Starkfield-reflects just as much. The cold, oppressive winter definitely reminded me of Zeena and her hold over Ethan and Mattie. It's a relentless, bitter control that doesn't even offer a glimpse of light or hope. And while I certainly made that obvious in discussing it, Wharton does it with skill-the setting looms as another character.

This is definitely a story of a doomed man, and a decision that altered what he wanted and needed most. And even though I know it's coming, I always wish he would change his mind (if only books worked that way, right?).

Anyway, just small thoughts for a small book with a big impact. If you're new to Wharton, this is a great place to start!

“But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning. It seemed to be a part of the thickening darkness, to be the winter night itself descending on us layer by layer.” 

Roundup of Reads and Randoms for June 2015.

I thought my bookshelves would make a good button!

Hi Everyone!

I know I said I would be a posting machine once school got out, and while I have definitely been reading and relaxing, I haven't gotten around to posting. I felt guilty for a little bit, but then I remembered that it's my blog, and it's okay.

That being said, June is at an end. And just like I promised myself I wouldn't look at anything school related until July, I also let myself have the first 2 weeks of summer vacation to myself. However, I did clean, a lot, and I'm currently in the process of culling my bookshelves and reorganizing (I think I have finally reach the point where I know I need to get rid of things).

In any case, I thought that a monthly roundup of my finished books and random favorites would be fun, so here we are.

Let's start this month with the reads, shall we?

In the month of June, I read 9 books, which is pretty good considering we didn't get out of school until June 18, and 3 of those books were read over the last 4 days. In any case, I didn't read all that diversely, but I did read some great books.

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (and Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling

This was my most recent gym listen, and it definitely worked well as audio motivation early in the month. I'll have a post up soon, but I'm currently struggling to find a good gym listen. I need entertaining, but not serious and not something I have to pay super close attention to!

Fables Volumes 5-8 by Bill Willingham

I was planning on spacing these out over the summer, but that failed to happen. These have a way of sucking me in! I don't have any more volumes here at home, so Amazon, here I come. And if you haven't read these, try them! They're a good series!

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

This book gave me a book hangover, but in the best way possible-it just gives you a lot to think about, especially if you have siblings. I have lots to say, but a post is forthcoming.

The Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy by Laini Taylor

This was on my summer TBR, and I'm so glad I dove back in. I read the first one last year, but so much time had passed that I decided to reread it before moving on to the other 2. They're good, but lengthy. They're also responsible for my eyes hurting. ;)

For next month, I definitely need to read a few classics. I think first up will be a Bronte, and probably the Wharton I started over the winter. I also want to finish the Mistborn trilogy, as I read the first one back in May. We shall see.

And now for the randoms....

I thought it would be fun to talk about some other randoms from the month-things I've been loving, favorite moments, and more.

This meme. It spoke to me deeply on the last day of school. :)

On one of the last days of school, I found this on my board after the kids had left. :)

Another student drew this on the front board after he finished his exam. For context, the kids had finished watching Jurassic Park the week earlier for our science-fiction unit, and I had mentioned that Velociraptors have always scared me! I love that it's saying "meow" and holding Diet Coke, which leads me to.....

I gave up Diet Coke back in April, and I am closing in on nearly 3 months without any pop in my system. I also rarely drink caffeine now (only if it is in my tea) and I feel SO MUCH BETTER.

There's a story behind this one....our media specialist and I devised this big book project that my sophomores worked on all second semester. The Compound by S.A. Bodeen was one of our picks, as it is a title that we both recommend often and kids always come back and say they love it (especially our reluctant teenage boys). Well, on the last day of school, a student brought this to me. Turns out Bodeen is a family friend, and she thought it was pretty cool that we were using her book. When I e-mailed his mom to thank her as well, she told me the story behind the inscription. When she asked her son what he wanted it to say, he said, "You're cool, but make sure it's spelled right because she'll get mad if it's the wrong your." Bodeen apparently thought that was funny, which is why it is spelled out. :) This is so wonderful and will remain proudly on my shelves for forever!

And of course, lots of shenanigans with the husband. This picture is from the Mumford and Sons concert we went to earlier in the month. We also have been hitting up some local brewers, as Matt is really into craft beer (me, not so much). We've also been going to the gym, cooking dinner and trying new recipes, and playing Mario Kart. I'm sure the happy period of being able to do things will come to an end when he gets sick of me being around all the time, but I'll enjoy it for now. :)

I hope you all had a lovely June! Bring it on July!

Books on my Summer TBR

I decided that I want to have a reading plan this summer. Well, not really a plan, but more of a guideline so I'm not so overwhelmed by books on my shelves. I don't have as much prepping to do this summer, so I'm planning on spending a lot of time reading, working out, and taking care of myself. I think it's pretty well-known and acknowledged that I'm pretty focused on school during the year. Now it's time to read.

I broke up my list into subcategories....because I'm just that crazy. Let me know what I should get to first!

Victorians

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte: I've had this title sitting on my shelf for quite some time, and since A Victorian Celebration is well underway, I think this will be my first read for the event. :)

Under the Greenwood Tree by Thomas Hardy: I actually started to read this one a few months ago, but set it aside and never got back to it. I was really enjoying it, as I seem to enjoy all of Hardy's work, so I think it's time to settle in and finish it (it's also pretty short, so it should be a fast read).

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens: So, if you've been a long-time reader of my blog, you know that Dickens is my arch-nemesis...well, he used to be. I've come to love some of his work (David Copperfield.... SO GOOD). This title is one that I've hated, but I really want to give it another chance. So, you're up Dickens!

Two on a Tower by Thomas Hardy: This is another slim Hardy volume that I'm sure I can fly through in a long sitting. I'm actually really intrigued by the story, so this might be at the top of my pile.

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins: I loved The Woman in White when I read it a couple of years ago, and while this has been sitting on my shelf for a couple years, I'm anxious to read it. :)

The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot: This title will be a reread for me, but I was so blown away by it the first time, that I just need to read it again. I consider this my favorite of Eliot's works, so I need to make sure that stands. ;)


Other Classics

The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather: I really want to get back into my Cather project, and this is the next title up. :)

The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton: I only have 100 pages left....so really, I need to just finish this. It's my favorite book. Ever. But I know it so well that I don't want to finish it, if that makes any sense. It's just so beautiful.

A lot of Shakespeare. I'm teaching a Shakespeare class this year! This is the first time it's been taught in about 9 years, so I'm starting from scratch. I'm still deciding what titles to teach, but The Tempest, The Taming of the Shrew, and Twelfth Night are all definite (I have 2 sections-1 each semester, so I might mix up the plays a bit!). I'm also considering Macbeth as one of our tragedies (I can't teach Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Othello, or Julius Caesar as they are taught in other classes). Any suggestions?

Series

The Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson: I finished Mistborn a week or two ago, and I need to settle in with the next two books! I'm excited to see where the series goes, so this is a definite for me!

Daughter of Smoke and Bone Series by Laini Taylor: I read the first one last summer in one sitting and LOVED it, but for whatever ridiculous reason, I didn't finish the series. This is going to be a reread for me, but I want to read these!

Shadow and Bone Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo: I can't remember who recommended these to me, but I bought them all at once and they've been sitting on my shelf for quite some time. I love the covers and from what I remember...from that person who told me to read these, is that these are quite good. :)

A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin: I'm actually in the middle of A Storm of Swords, so I'm halfway done! HUZZAH! I'm a huge fan of the show, so I know I can jump right back into these and fly through them. Yep, they're big, but these are the kind of books where I can read 100-150 pages in a sitting.

Fables by Bill Willingham: I already read 1-4, but I have 5-8 sitting on my nightstand. These are great, quick reads, so I'm hoping to fly through them in between longer reads. I really love this series!

Random Books and Recommendations

Serena by Ron Rash: A friend at work read this and recommended it, and after flipping through it, I knew it was meant for me. I know little about it except that Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper were in the movie. And it's good. So, we shall see.

Miss Hazel and the Rosa Parks League by Jonathan ODell: This was another recommendation from a friend at work, and again, I know little about it. However, she really loved it and told me the history nerd part of me would love it.

100 Sideways Miles by Andrew Smith: I LOVE SMITH. And I am slowly getting around to all of his books. I just got this one in a book swap, and I am very excited to read more by him. After this one, I think there are only 2 I haven't read (Marbury Lens and Passenger....but I could be wrong). FABULOUS writer.

Battle Royale by Koushun Takami: This is a beast of a book, but one that I have wanted to read for a really long time. I feel like this is one I'm going to wait to read until the end of the summer, but I know it's going to be a fast-paced read.



Well, there you have it-a hopeful reading list for this summer. I think it's diverse enough to keep me plenty occupied, and while I know I won't get to everything, I think I can make a pretty good dent and read some fabulous books.

Let me know what you think I should move to the top of the pile as well as your plans for reading this summer!